On the economics of staging for reusable launch vehicles Available to Purchase

There has been much recent discussion concerning possible replacement systems for the current U.S. fleet of launch vehicles, including both the shuttle and expendable vehicles. Attention has been focused upon the feasibility and potential benefits of reusable single‐stage‐to‐orbit (SSTO) launch systems for future access to low Earth orbit (LEO). In this paper we assume the technical feasibility of such vehicles, as well as the benefits to be derived from system reusability. We then consider the benefits of launch vehicle staging from the perspective of economic advantage rather than performance necessity. Conditions are derived under which two‐stage‐to‐orbit (TSTO) launch systems, utilizing SSTO‐class vehicle technology, offer a relative economic advantage for access to LEO.